Ngamiland Explores Tannery Industry Potential
Boniface Keakabetse | Monday September 28, 2015 15:44
UNDP, in partnership with the government are undertaking the Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project in an effort to improve livelihoods in Ngamiland.
The workshop further heard that the leather industry is an opportunity in the district with a cattle population of around 500,000, which has grown beyond the district carrying capacity. UNDP hosted a leather sector workshop in an effort to acquaint participants with better ways to run viable leather-based businesses to diversify from the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) affected beef sector.
The workshop brought together individual rural community members with interest and preliminary skills in leather tanning, processing and product manufacturing from the entire Ngamiland district. The workshop was held in line with the SLM target for improved access of farmers to markets for livestock products.
The output focus on improving the enabling environment for the establishment of small-scale community-based enterprises related to processing and marketing of livestock products such as leather, horn, and bones from both cattle and small stock.
To achieve this outcome farmers, merchants and policymakers are brought together to explore the feasibility of establishing an inclusive livestock value chain as well as other available opportunities for establishment of small industries based on non-meat livestock products.
Workshop facilitator, Sydney Mutambirwanwa said that the workshop was meant to open attendants’ eyes to opportunities that exist in the leather and allied manufacturing sector.
Mutambirwanwa said those in attendance were mostly hide collectors and others, who engage in a bit of leather processing while others make leather products such as shoes, belts and saddles. “The leather value chain is broad. We want to empower the participants to know that there are whole opportunities out there beyond what they currently do,” he said.
According to Mutambirwanwa, there are is an array products that leather workers can make to diversify from current products they make such as sandals, belts, horses saddles and sporting equipment like balls. He said the soccer ball making technology is very easy for leather makers.Mutambirwanwa said that the workshop was the first part of training with the second part involving taking the participants for a benchmarking trip to Zimbabwe. He said the benchmarking trip is from October 4 to 11.
SLM Project coordinator, Tiego Mpho said the livelihoods of Ngamiland residents is based on the cattle sector whose productivity is hampered by prolonged and recurrent FMD outbreaks.
He said SLM aims to mainstream sustainable land management in rangeland areas of Ngamiland District for improved livelihoods of communities.
In a follow up interview, Mpho said that other sectors such as grass harvesting, crafts and other available niches will be explored by SLM to be undertaken by the Ngamiland people on a sustainable basis.